In October this year, Mickey Mamani, a 24-year old leader for people with disabilities in Bolivia came to a point where his life was hanging by a thread; a bedsore has turned into an open wound and become infected, it's eating his muscle and the infection has spread to his bones and blood. His primary enemy; poverty and the lack of resources to get the hospital treatment he needs. The public hospital in his hometown Potosi, sent him home with painkillers and essentially gave up. Mickey had almost given up, when he saw his story featured in the interview on CNN; he decided he wasn't ready to lie down and had to keep fighting. A friend organized Mickey's travel to Cochabamba on Monday, November 6th. He was operated that night in a private hospital and had a further operation on Monday, November 13th.

Mickey traversing the Andes fighting for the rights of people with disabilities in Bolivia. March 2016.

We know Mickey because he’s a young leader for people with disabilities, who last year was part of the protest that travelled 240 miles overland to speak to the president of Bolivia...but when they arrived to the capital, they were attacked with tear gas, mace, water cannons and thrown from their wheelchairs by police. Their fight on the streets of La Paz, lasted 100 days. They demanded a monthly pension of $70, to be able to pay for basic necessities, like medicine.

Mickey in the newspaper showing he won a 3.600 mts race where 10,000 athlets competed.

Since being in a wheelchair, due to an accident, Mickey hasn’t stopped, he’s won gold medals in a marathon. The truth is that because of his condition, his family talked about ‘putting him to sleep’ so he’d no longer suffer, they couldn’t even afford to buy him a wheelchair. To have a disability and be poor in Bolivia is the worst combination.Imagine hearing your family talk about doing this? It made Mickey angry, but also gave him strength, he wasn’t going to give up so easily and with a friends help, he found a wheelchair and started to succeed, working and studying like any 24 year old. But sometimes things don’t turn out how you’d like. A bedsore opened up his skin, got infected and started eating his muscle ending up in his bone and blood.

When you’re 24 years old, your desire to achieve your dreams is at it’s peak. Miguel Mamani, better known as Mickey, was getting ready to finish school and go to university: his dream is to be a lawyer. But his life full of adventure and constant struggle to get ahead is getting darker by the day… The doctors in his town Potosi, have given up on him, is illness, disability combined with poverty. Today, he’s walking a fine line between life and death.

We’ve already asked for help, thinking a special cushion for Micky’s wheelchair would fix his bedsores and we were optimistic because he was getting better, but he began to lose weight, he’s no longer the same chubby kid, always smiling and curious for life, his doctors were simply giving him pain killers, while his bedsores were becoming a time bomb.

Don’t let his voice die! Mickey, the gold medal-winning marathon competitor, who wants to become a lawyer to defend the rights of people with disabilities, today needs your help. Time is running out, but Mickey can’t wait and your help can make the difference.

His condition is complicated, his blood is infected and it looks like bone from his hip will have to be removed. He can’t wait any longer for the bureaucracy of the public health system in Bolivia because he needs treatment now. While the doctors at the private hospital, have offered not to charge, the treatment Mickey needs is expensive.

His diagnosis says, infected peritrochanteric bedsore that led to sepsis and osteomyelitis in his right hip that has spread to his fingers. He also has another bedsore on his right knee. He needs plasma in the form of blood transfusions for the next 10 days and daily hyperbaric chamber treatment. He will need a hip replacement once he’s recovered.

The treatment to save him will cost between $5,000 to $10,000. It will depend on the time he takes to recover.

Mickey's bone coming out of his infected bedsore.

Mickey needs your help, a donation big or small can save the life of a person who’s demonstrated his physical limits aren’t an obstacle to living his life like anyone else.

His desire to be a lawyer to defend the rights of people with disabilities can’t be let down because he doesn’t have money to pay for medical treatment.

Mickey after the first operation on Nov 7th 2017.

You can help to make the difference, so Mickey’s voice isn’t silenced.

If you would like to make a donation and don't have access to a credit card, deposits can be made at:

I would like to let everyone know that Mickey is recovering, his wound still open but he is out of danger. He still gets the wound cleaned everyday and some days he gets sad because he is not able to go back to school yet. We are very proud of Mickey and thank you so much for your support.

On Sunday 26th of November, Mickey's hometown association of people with disabilities hosted a fundraising in the streets of Potosi. They sold chicken and rice, drinks and raised $240 for Mickey. They will host another fundraiser in two weeks. Solidarity is contagious. I'm deeply moved by the actions of the strongest people in Bolivia. Thank you. Please keep supporting Mickey's campaign.

An angel from Norway decided to help Mickey and yesterday made a contribution of 10,000 USD. I was so stressed because the doctors told me, Mickey needs at least another 4 weeks in hospital and more time in a special rehabilitation centre. It's a real medical miracle that he is alive, when infection reaches the bone, the chances of surviving for a paraplegic person are small but Mickey is beating all the odds and is alive and getting better and stronger. The wound is now 10 cm, it was 60 cm. We really need people to continue supporting this campaign, as Mickey will need a full heap replacement once he gets better, we really need this campaign to continue and all the fundraising activities. Thank you.